Tuesday, July 28, 2009

COMMENTS: Once again, the Dodgers sit on the precipice of a three-game losing streak, something they've avoided all year long. So it's fitting that, two days after a hack LATimes writer called him out, Billingsley gets the chance to show if he can be that ace under pressure that the Dodgers apparently "don't have." True, Bills has struggled a bit of late, needing the Manny pinch hit grand slam to earn his 10th victory. But I'm guessing Chad has enough gumption tonight to win it for himself--and not for the fear of a three-game losing streak or the hack journalists without a clue. Just win it for you, Your Royal Thighness!

As a reminder, this game also debuts the new SoSG insipid time-wasting game, "One Hundred Splendid Sons", or 100SS. Complete rules are posted here, but the point is for us to have fun in the Game Thread competing for the 100-multipled comments. That way, even if the Dodgers fall to the Cardinals, we SoSGers can still have fun while it's grey in LA. I mean, when it's grey in LA, I sure like it that way, 'cause there's way too much sunshine 'round here. I don't know about you; I get so sick of blue skies whenever they always appear.

I made that sign in the spring of 1982. I was 14 years old and Steve Sax was my very favorite baseball player. I would take it with me when he made appearences or at games. I had it with me when he appeared as grand marshall for the christmas parade, his appearence at Florin mall, and at least ten others. I use to take it with me to "Candlestink" park until someone tried to rip it out of my hands and tore it.

@karina: I had dinner with a venezuelan friend tonight and--no joke--he said there were 30-odd Venezuelan players in the majors. I could recite some of them from your comments (Abreu, Ordonez, Cabrera, etc.), but I was missing a ton...who are your faves?

My faves right now? Bob Abreu is a big favorite, though he plays for Leones del Caracas. Gerardo Parra and Carlos Gonzalez because they are the new stars of Aguilas del Zulia. Miguel Cabrera is awesome, it's incredible how hitting looks when you see him swinging a bat. Got a big crush on Ramon Hernandez...

Sax, there are Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen, Ramon Hernandez and Henry Blanco. They are icons of venezuelan winter baseball from the 90's.

Ordonez is known as "Caribe Mayor", because he's the biggest star of that team, Caribes de Anzoategui, expansion team from the early nineties. He hasn't played in awhile, he's very beloved, that's why people got so upset when he took side in internal politics.

In the late nineties, Ordonez, Victor Martinez and Zambrano played for Caribes. No championships, if a MLB team had those three, it might be a dream (pretty aware this season by Ordonez sucks).

Some people are surprised Henry Blanco is almost a God here. He always plays winter baseball, he's a great defensive player and he was the captain of the most popular team in the country:Leones. He was traded last season for the smallest team in the country and Leones fans were very angry. Witout any doubt, he's one of the most popular people here.

Love in the Time of Cholera is a novel about a guy who was in love and waited for a woman during 53 years, seven months and 11 days.While he waited, he slept with 600+ women. For somewhat reason, you reminded me of the book when you said: cuando el amor no es locura, no es amor.

As much as I hate Plaschke, I tend to agree that there is no proven pitcher on this team that can shut an opponent down. Say what you will about the bullpen, its not enough come playoff time. If you lineup every playoff contending team, nearly all of them have a better #1 than the Dodgers. Sorry Chad, if you're #1 you can't be tied for 5th most walks in the league. You have to go deeper into games.

Here they are, HLACK's contending teams and their Aces.

St. Louis: Carpenter/Wainwright - both of these guys are having great seasons, and Carp is already established his post season ability.

Philly: Hamels (Halladay?) - he proved it last year against the Dodgers. Hasn't looked as sharp this year, but his K/BB is still stellar. I blame most of his ERA misfortunes to the sore elbow in the beginning of the season.

Chicago: Zambrano - as nasty as they come. Got robbed by his defense last post season. Peripherals aside, this is a guy who I'd give the ball to in a big game, easily.

Houston: Oswalt - been kicking ass for years.

SF: Lincecum - baseball's best pitcher, period.

Atlanta: Lowe/Vasquez - Lowe hasn't been as good as he was for the Good Guys last year, but he's tough as nails, we all know this. Look as Vasquez's numbers, they speak for themselves.

Colorado: Marquis/Jimenez - advantage Billingsly.

Milwaukee: Gallardo - unproven in the post due to injuries last year. Can be dominant, but I'd side with Bills in this matchup as well.

Florida: Josh Johnson - best fastball in the game right now. Is on a 16 game stretch of allowing 3 ER or less. That's tough to beat, as the Dodgers found out. Tough to say on this one. Billingsly's tendency to walk batters and Johnson's shut down stuff make me want to give JJ the edge.

I'm no hater boys and girls, I just watch way too much baseball. I don't know who the right piece is, or maybe the Dodgers can stop stranding 10 runners a game and just score 8 runs an outing and win that way (our tendency to be in 1 run game situations doesn't lend itself to that hypothesis).

Is Billingsly really an Ace? Kershaw will be, that I feel safe about saying. I can't say the same for my man Billz.

Here's who I wouldn't trade: Kemp, Billingsly, Kershaw, Martin (unless its in a deal for Victor Martinez). I'd trade anybody else on the club for an Ace pitcher that makes us the odds-on favorites to win the World Series.

@Neeebs (got the spelling down bro). In all honesty, I don't think that Manny's name comes up in any trade talks for pitchers. Toronto and Cleveland are trying to shed payroll, so a Manny trade makes no sense. Would I trade Manny for Tim Lincecum or Dan Haren? I'd have to think about it.

i think it would affect the pitching staff in a negative way to trade the catcher midseason. Plus we already traded our top catching prospect for blake last year. Im not too sure that Ausmus and Ellis could fill that hole.